A new survey by Gallup Korea reveals that 31% of Korean adults now consider stocks the most favorable method for financial investment—overtaking real estate (23%) for the first time since the poll began in 2000. Savings and deposits followed at 20%, with cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin cited by 9%, and mutual funds, gold, and bonds all below 2%.
The change is notable. In 2023, only 14% of respondents picked stocks as the best investment vehicle. That figure has more than doubled in 2025, while preference for crypto also rose from 2% to 9%. In contrast, confidence in real estate dropped sharply—from 39% to 23% over the same period—indicating a clear shift in asset preference among the public.
By age group, the trend is more pronounced. Stock preference outpaced real estate among those in their 20s (30% vs. 24%) and 30s (36% vs. 35%). Notably, 16% of 20-somethings selected crypto assets as their top financial strategy, the highest across all age groups—reflecting a generational shift toward digital assets and non-traditional finance.
Experts attribute this shift to the Korean government’s push to revitalize capital markets and reduce overdependence on real estate wealth. The proliferation of mobile trading platforms and fintech apps has also played a major role, lowering entry barriers and encouraging small-scale investing, particularly among younger people.
